The Raspberry Hut: And Other Ukrainian Folk Tales Retold in English

Description

Whether you’re a pleasure reader or a serious student of folklore, or whether you’re young or young at heart, as author Evanishen says, “everyone loves to hear a good folk tale or a funny story well told.”

The Raspberry Hut and Other Ukrainian Folk Tales Retold in English (The Raspberry Hut) is the first volume in a series of ten tomes of Ukrainian folk tales in the editor’s collection. Still to be collected and retold are thousands of such tales, and The Raspberry Hut represents only a tiny fraction. Scripted in large font facilitating reading while black-and-white illustrations supplement text throughout, within the 144 pages of The Raspberry Hut are to be found Ukrainian folk tales which are not only old favorites, but also some which are rare tales, as well.

Fifteen Ukrainian folk tales are retold and edited by Danny Evanishen in an entertaining manner sure to appeal to all. Translations are by John W. Evanishen, the author’s father, and accompanying illustrations are by Deanna Evanishen, the author’s niece, and Johanne (Evanishen) Kasha, the author’s sister. Besides editing, Danny Evanishen has authored other books.

A folk tale has been described as a short story that comes from oral tradition. Folk tales often deal with everyday life and characters are animals with human characteristics. The first publication of Ukrainian oral folklore was at the beginning of the 19th century; by the 20th century, an impressive number of folkloric collections and studies were produced in Western Ukraine. Ivan Franko wrote numerous articles on folk oral traditions and a six-volume edition of Ukrainian proverbs. During this period, Volodymyr Hnatiuk was the most productive ethnographer and folklorist. Visit the website of the Encyclopedia of Ukraine for an in-depth explanation of Ukrainian folklore.